William c



Feb. 3; 1931. w, HEATH I 1,790,919

METALLIC CONTAINER Filed Sept. 16, 1926 INVENTOR M/liam 6. Hzafir A TTQRNEY Patented Fens, 1931 UNITED STATES ATENToF Icn I WILLIAM c. HEATH, or 'BELorr, wrsoonsm, ASSIGNOR TorAmBANKsMoRsE & 00.,

or 'omoAe tmnors, A CORPORATION or. rumors Mnranmo CONTAINER Application filed September 16, 1926., Serial no. 135,822. j

My invention relates to improvements in metallic containers, and more particularly to improvementsin reinforcing means for such containers and the method of making the same. r V a The object of my invention is to provide .a simpler, more permanentand less expensive reinforcing means for the perimeter or outer edges of metallic containers of substantial size, such as those used for wash tubs, washing machines, and the like. I

A further object of my invention is to provide a means for reinforcing the upper edges of a metallic container which may be secured to the container without rivets, bolts, or other securing means apart from the elements constituting the container itself.

A further object of my invention is to provide a reinforcement for the upper edges of a tub or container which will afford sufficient strength and surface to permlt the at- V tachment of accessories thereon.

Further objects and advantages of my device willappear from the drawing and the detailed description thereof.

By way of illustration I show my invention as applied to the tub member of a washing machine." The same arrangement may,

posed. Such abottom member may be secured to the sides of the container in a manner substantially like that indicated in the accompanying drawings.

' The drawings and-the accompanying description deal substantially-with the application of my invention toiawashing machine tub. This is intended, however, only as an example ofa particular application, the same arrangement of parts and method of manufacture being equallyadaptable to any device of a similar nature. It is the usual practice in the manufacture through a portion jected to the finishing-operation. ber thanthat. of which the sides. are 'comof ashing machine tubs toeffect a joint of this sort by riveting the elements together at very close intervals. The result has been unsatisfactory in many cases. .The'vibration incident to the washing process loosens the rivets. In the case of such a joint belowthe water line .leakage'results and the resulting corrosion causes the tub in many cases to be discarded before the operating elements are worn out. Even if all rivetswere originally tight, the effect of washing-compoundsiand long exposureto moistureinevitably results in corrosion. I have avoided these difliculties by providing a band member which is preferably cast from an aluminum alloy'or other non-rusting material. The method of joining the band member to the sides of-thetub results in a joint which is absolutely tight, which is very little affected by vibrationand which will have no tendency to tearor snag fabrics in contact therewith as is the case when rivets become loose in bands of-ordi nary construction. v

As a band or joint member I preferlgto use a casting of an aluminum alloy having sufiicient ductility to permit rolling or bend- Any casting of an alloy having the requisite cli ctilityand other characteristics may, how-' ever, be used.

f Referring to the drawing, Fig.1 represents a section through the finished band of my' in .ing the sides of the groove without cracking.

ven'tion; Fig. 2 shows its application to .a I

washing machine and Fig.3: 1s a sectionv of the'ba-nd before it is sub- Referring by numerals to the: drawing,

represents a wall of a tub body preferably of sheet metal and provided at the edges with a hem or bead 6. The tub bandiwhich is indicated by 8 is preferably made of a'reasonably ductile alloy andis bifurcated at its downs wardly depending side in such a manner asto providea recess 9 between a lip '10- and the body portion of the :band indicated by 11. 1 In assembling,the tub band'Sis inserted I over the tub body 5so that hem or beadG of the tub Wall fits snugly} into recess 91in. the

I tub band. By a single operation lip 10;is rolled down or otherwise crimped securely be used in special cases between the beside and lip 10 and end 11 of wall 5, particularly where. the inside and outside of a container so con"- structed are subjected to differences in pressure and where a hermetically sealed joint is essential. The lip 10 after being rolled down against the wall '5 may even be roller-welded or seam-weldedthereto and theportion 11 of band 8 may alsobe welded to the wall 5.

The band, as shown, has a member curved downward toward the inside of the tub for purposes of drainage. Obviously, either the whole of the top surface ot-the band, or a port on thereof, may be made flat and may be drilledto receive accessories or appliances such as wringers, etc.

-Although my invention consists largely in the oonstructionand arrangement of parts above described, yet I do not limit my invention to theprecisetorm or construction of parts shownor the several parts thereof, inasmuch as various alterations may be made without changing the scope of my invention, as pomted out 1n the appended clalms.

a ductile aluminum alloy, forming a shelf for said tub, about the tub opening; said band being bifurcated to engage the inside and outside of said body portion at a peripheral margin thereof, the band and body portion being separatelytormed, and pressed into mutual engagement. 7

4:. In a washing machine tub, the combination of a sheet metal bodyand a reinforcing 1nembr,'itormed of an aluminum alloy, said reintorcinginember being attached at a peripheralmargin of said body and comprising a portion extending inwardly of said body and portion integral therewith and at an angle thereto extending downwardly along said body, said downwardlyextending portion being bifurcated at the extremity where it engages said body, the bifurcated port-ion being rolled to embrace said body at its peripheral margin to form a substantially tight oint.

WILLIAM o. JIHEATH.

'1. In a tub, a beaded sheetmetal body-- portion and a one-piece, cast reinforcing band for said tub, consisting of a-ductile'alloy element formed separately from said body portion and of angulate section, the depending wall of one of its angles being bifurcated to form an annular pocket receiving the in-.

side and outside of said body portion at the peripheral margins thereof and the other angular portion extending inwardly of the tub to form an annular shelf, one of theturcations of said first named anglebeing adapted to be closed upon said margins by pressure, with the beaded port on and margins entirely occupying said annular pocket and-forming a substantially tight joint therewith 2. In a tubfor like container, ,a headed,

sheet metal body portion, a cast flanged band o-t angulate section, formed of a ductile alloy, L

the depending wall-0f one of its angles being bifurcated to form an inverted annular groove, and the material on opposite sides of the groove andformin the furcations bein L, a j ,7 t: 1 7 a: pressed into close engagement with tne body portion, whereby the groove is entirely occupied by the beadedportion of the body, and

th e'ban d secured to the body portion, and anotherangle portion extending inwardly of the tub to form a shelf about the tub opening.

3. In a Washing machine tub, a sheet metal body portion, and acast reinforcing bandof iso 

